FIR lodged in bogus mutation scam
Our Correspondent

Ambala, February 16
An FIR has been registered at Ambala Cantonment police station against some persons on the recommendation of the Chief Minister's flying squad in an alleged bogus mutation scam. The flying squad has been probing into the allegations of tampering with the records related to the Divisional Employment Exchange building.

According to information, involvement of a few municipal council officials in the scam could not be ruled out. Some councillors had also raised the issue during the council's meeting. Later, the inquiry was handed over to the CM’s flying squad. The estate officer had sealed the records following the allegations of bogus mutation entries.

The flying squad that had conducted the investigations lodged the complaint under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471and 120-B of the IPC at the Ambala Cantonment police station last late evening.

Earlier, on December 13 last year, the Ambala Sadar municipal council had taken the building spread over 4.9 acres of land in its possession from the illegal occupants. Former MLA Anil Vij of Ambala Cantonment had also raised this issue and demanded a probe into it.

Rly overbridge to open next month
Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 16
There is a good news for residents of 12 posh colonies located across Phatak No. 21, as railway overbridge over the level crossing No 21 is all set to be inaugurated next month.

The project has cost Rs 22 crore and funds for the purpose made available by the Punjab Infrestructure Development Board.

The foundation stone of the overbridge was laid by the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in September, 2006, and it was scheduled to be completed this month. However, because of the extended winter this time, the project could not be completed on schedule and was now being given finishing touches. It is expected to be completed and inaugurated next month.

The level crossing had become a major bottleneck as it remained closed to traffic for several hours daily. There was persistent demands from the residents of the colonies located up to Passey Road for construction of a railway overbridge. Deputations of residents met the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to press for this demand.

It is proposed to landscape and develop the area under the overbridge with decorative plants. The overbridge will ease traffic congestion in the upmarket phatak No. 22 area and adjoining localities. Real estate dealers speculate an upswing in the prices of property in the locality from the Mansahia Colony up to Passey Road.

Withdrawal of train stopover
GM assures resolution
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana, February 16
To resolve the issue of the withdrawal of stopover of 4553, 4554 Himachal Express at Bassi Pathana railway station and to restore the old route of 1CNA, 2CNA passenger train running between Ambala and Takrala via Bassi Pathana, a delegation of residents, led by MP Sukhdev Singh Libra, met Northern Railways GM Shri Parkash yesterday.

The delegation not only raised the issue related to Bassi Pathana railway station but also submitted a memorandum to the GM not to withdraw the stopover of 2013,2014 UMB, Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express from Sirhind railway station. The railway authorities have put up a notice at the Sirhind railway station that the stopover of Shatabdi Express at Sirhind railway station would be withdrawn from March 1.

Hindu organisations general secretary Manoj Banda, who is leading the agitation, said Libra and Gulshan, MP from Bathinda, would strongly take up the case of Sirhind and Bassi Pathana railway stations with GM and other officers. He said the GM had assured to do the needful and Ambala DRM had called the delegation to Ambala to resolve the issue.

Defamation suit filed against patron of nursing home
Our Correspondent

Ambala, February 16
Surender Ghai, husband of the secretary of the Red Cross Society, Ambala, has filed a defamation suit against the patron and secretary of Mahabir Nursing Home, Ambala city, and 74 nursing trainees in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate on the charge of defaming his wife.

Ghai runs a chemist shop in the civil hospital, Ambala city. He said in the complaint that the patron of Mahabir Nursing College had taken rooms in working women’s hostel on rent to accommodate girl candidates there.

On January 4, the deputy commissioner of Ambala had directed secretary of the Red Cross Society Alka Ghai to inspect the hostel personally as an unwanted person used to go there without permission. He said his wife acted upon the DC’s order and visited the hostel where the trainees of nursing college were staying.

He alleged in the complaint that the patron and trainees published defamatory news against his wife. The nursing trainees had opposed the visit of the secretary of the Red Cross Society during late evening hours.

CRIME

3 snatchings in a day
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16
Making elderly women their target, snatchers struck thrice in different sectors of the city today. While two of the snatchings took place in broad daylight, a purse was snatched late in the evening. Two of the victims were above 50 years of age.

The first incident took place in Sector 40 when two unidentified youths riding a motorcycle (CH04-A-7951) pulled a chain along with its diamond locket from 35-year-old Santosh. The number of the motocycle was, however, found to be invalid.

The second incident was reported from Sector 19. Two youths riding a bike tried to snatch a gold chain of an elderly lady, Gurdeep Kaur, who was walking to the Sector-19 market with her daughter. A struggle with the snatchers led to breaking of her chain following which a part of the chain was taken away while the rest of it fell on the ground.

In yet another incident, two youths made 62-year-old Vijay Sood, a resident of Sector 35, their target while she was coming back from a temple in Sector 35 with her husband at around 7.30 pm. Two youths snatched her purse containing cash, two mobile phones and essential documents near the Government Model School in the sector. The number could not be noted down as the snatchers escaped in the darkness, the police said.

Thieves decamp with temple jewellery
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16
Thieves decamped with gold and silver ornaments from a temple in Sector 42.

Pandit Kartika Parshad of Sector 45-D reported to the police that gold and silver ornaments were stolen from idols installed at SD Madir, Sector 42, during the night intervening February 14 and 15. A case has been registered at the Sector-36 police station.

Vehicle stolen

Amritpal Singh of Sector 44 lodged a complaint with the police that his Maruti car (PB-10-P-6109) was stolen from his residence on February 6. Meanwhile, Jaswinder Kaur of Sector 44 reported that her motorcycle (CH-23-T-6279) was stolen from Sector 44 market on Friday. Two separate cases of theft have been registered.

Nabbed

Mohinder Singh of Sector 41 filed a complaint with the police that Raj Kumar of Mandi district was caught red-handed while stealing his cycle from a school in Sector 41 on Friday. The police arrested the accused and registered a case.

Negligent Driving
MC chief’s kin booked for causing death
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 16
The local police has booked a relative of Panchkula municipal committee president Seema Chaudhary for allegedly causing death due to rash and negligent driving here today. The accused has been identified as Gautam, a resident of Sector 2.

According to the police, the accused, who was driving a Skoda car, hit a scooter injuring three persons, including a 14-year-old child Puneet on the road dividing Sectors 5 and 6 yesterday night.

Later, one of the injured Kuldeep succumbed to his injuries at PGI while the other two - Sudesh and Puneet - were struggling for life.

Later, it was found that the car belonged to MC president Seema Chaudhary. The police has registered a case against the accused under Sections 337 and 304A.

CULTURE

Spirit of Tagore Theatre will be intact: Namita Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16
Namita Singh, the architect for the new-look Tagore Theatre, says none of the functional aspects of Tagore Theatre are being changed to expand its seating capacity. Tagore Theatre’s alteration has been under question, with renowned filmmaker M.S. Sathyu recently pointing out deficiencies. Original architect for the project - Aditya Prakash - has also been objecting to structural changes in theatre’s space.

Namita Singh however says her design is sensitive to the spirit of the theatre, adding that seating capacity was being enhanced to cope with acute shortage of space during performances. “The existing capacity was woefully short. Around 100 chairs used to be added in the aisles and people would still be standing. The possibility of expanding the capacity had to be explored along with upgrading the theatre’s audio-video, stage lighting, stage furnishing, seating and flooring,” she says.

“To improve the space without tempering with its existing structure was the main challenge,” says Namita, allaying fears of Sathyu and Rani Balbir Kaur, who had earlier said that the new triangular stage in a corner was a shock. Aditya Prakash has been objecting to the reversal of concept as the stage is now being shifted to the opposite side.

“The stage is neither in a corner nor triangular. Once the cyclorama and wings are in place and connections between the acting area and new structure opened, it will be apparent that the dimensions and shape of the stage are the same as that of the old. It will however have larger green rooms and toilets,” says Namita.

A close examination of theatre’s plans, she says, revealed that it could be turned around without compromising the functional aspects.

On the infrastructure front, she says state of the art sound and lighting system is being incorporated. A two-level parking for 400 cars has also been proposed. Contesting Rani Balbir’s observations that 90 per cent of the theatre has been reserved for the audiences and little space has been left for performers; Namita said stage was not just the acting area as seen by the audiences.

“It also comprises spaces needed for other functions. Area of the new stage is equal to the area for seating,” Namita says, assuring to theatre lovers an aesthetic experience.

City poet to represent Punjab at SAARC poetry fest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 16
City-based Punjabi poet Govardhan Gabbi, along with Dr Jatinder Jolly from Amritsar, has been invited to represent Punjab at the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) poetry festival.

Young writers from all eight SAARC member countries will participate in the three-day literary meet being held at Bhubneshwar from February 21 to 24 underthe aegis of the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL).

While interacting with mediapersons, Gabbi recited some of his select poetic creations in Punjabi duly translated in English for distribution during the festival.

“The festival will felicitate the writers from diverse cultural traditions to interact with their counterparts and establish new bonds of understanding, harmony and literary ventures,” says Gabbi.

Punjabi book released
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 16
Jung Bahadur Goyal’s latest book "Vishav Sahit De Shahkar" was released at a function held at the Chandigarh Press Club here today. The book featuring synopsis and critical evaluation of 25 classic novels of the world by legendary authors is indeed a milestone in Punjabi literature, said chief guest Dr S.S. Johl.

A former bureaucrat and a prolific litterateur, Jung Bahadur Goyal’s versatility of literary creation encompass many forms and languages. Be it his Hindi novel “Shesh Phir” or spiritually influenced “Swami Vivekanand- His human bonds” and music oriented homage to Baba Harvallabh and many more on contemporary issues, Goyal has blended the tradition with modernity, maintained the National Sahitya Akademy Awardee Santokh Singh Dhir who presided over the function.

C.R. Moudgil, director of Haryana Sahit Akademy, Prof Kirpal Kazak, Joginder Tyger, Dr Surinder Sharma, Kana Singh, designer Gaurav Goyal and others expressed their views.

Talking to The Tribune, the author disclosed that his next two books would feature the works of another 25 foreign and Indian novelists.